{"id":175903,"date":"2023-09-18T11:58:27","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T10:58:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/?p=175903"},"modified":"2023-09-18T12:01:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-18T11:01:23","slug":"evolution-social-media-world-become-connected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/realbusiness.co.uk\/evolution-social-media-world-become-connected","title":{"rendered":"The Evolution of Social Media: When Did the World Become So Connected?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is Social Media Helpful or Harmful in 2023?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Social media platforms have expanded dramatically, especially since the pandemic, and can be used for so many of our daily activities: keeping in touch with loved ones, watching live streams, reading the news, accessing e-commerce shops, following celebrities or influencers, learning a new skill, or meeting new people.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, research reveals that what we think is helpful or harmless social media usage has turned into an addiction for around <\/span>210 million people<\/span><\/a> worldwide, and studies suggest that this will only get worse.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social media platforms produce the same neural circuitry as recreational drugs like alcohol, nicotine and cannabis. Whilst retweets and likes can affect the brain’s reward area and trigger the same kind of chemical reaction as addictive Class A drugs such as cocaine. This may explain why humans on social media are called \u201cusers\u201d, rather than customers or consumers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gaining access to social media is beyond easy as it takes just a couple of seconds to set up a free account and there are over 125 social media platforms worldwide, with WhatsApp being the \u201cfavourite\u201d for 16- through to to 64-year-olds (July 2023), followed by Instagram and Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n

As we prepare for the <\/span>landline switch off in 2025<\/span><\/a>, social media could become even more prominent in our everyday lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Time

(Image Source: <\/span>Data Reportal<\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

So, here is a breakdown of our \u201cfavourite\u201d social media platforms, when they launched, how well they are doing so far this year in terms of monthly active users, and the impact they have on mental health and wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

WhatsApp\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve never used this app, it is an instant messaging, voice and video calling platform owned by American technology giants Meta Platforms, released in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n

WhatsApp now has at least <\/span>2 billion<\/span><\/a> monthly active users worldwide\u2014both for professional and personal use\u2014and over 100 billion messages are sent daily through the app. It prides itself on being completely private, with all information encrypted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Instagram is a photo and video-sharing social media platform also owned by Californian-based Meta Platforms. On 6 October 2010, the Instagram iOS app was released, and <\/span>25,000<\/span><\/a> people signed up on the first day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Android version came in April 2012, followed by a desktop version in November 2012, a Fire OS app in June 2014, and a Windows 10 app in October 2016.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram now has 1.628 billion users, which means 32.2% of people aged 13 and above – excluding those in China, where the app is still blocked – use Instagram today.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, a <\/span>2021 Forbes article<\/span><\/a> highlighted the the long-confirmed, negative and harmful effects of Instagram:<\/span><\/p>\n